# [[Cascading Failures]] A cascading failure in computing is a significant degradation in a service that was initially caused by a single event that compounded. Cascading failures occur because of the system's failure to react intelligently and appropriately to an error. In most cascading failures, the triggering event is a small error that causes a domino effect of reactions that only serve to further increase degradation. ## Examples of cascading failures - [[Retry storm]] - [[Thundering herd problem]]